Cartridge-controlling mechanism for repeating firearms



s sheets-sheet 1 Y H. L. CROCKETT Filed July 4, 1939CARTRIDGE-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR REPEATING FIREARMS @d wm Smm Nov.i11, 1941'.

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H. l.. cRocKE'rT Filed July 4, 1959 CARTRIDGE-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FORREPEATING FI'REARMS Nov; 11, 1941.

N f E f E Nov. 11,'1941. H. L. cRocKETT 2,261,976 CARTRIDGE-CONTROLLINGMECHANIsM FOR REPEATING FIREARMS Filed July 4, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Nov. 11, 1941 Y AgfUNVPEo STATES PATENT or CARTRmGE-CGNTROLLINGMECHANISM FOR REPEATING FIREARMS Harry L..Crockett, New.H'aven, Conn.,vassignor *n to WesternCartridge' Company, New Haven,v

Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application Ju1y`4, .1939. serial No.282,818'

9 Cmms. j (C1. i2-17) y,The present invention relates to improvementsinprepeating firearms and moreparticularly to mechanisms whereby thetransfer of fresh-car tridges from the magazines ofrearms, is effectedor controlled. l

vOneof the objects of the present invention is to provide a superiorcartridge-controlling'mechanism for the purpose above referred to, whichhas capacity for reliable functioning without occasioning the jamming ofthe cartridges being fed or controlled. Y

Another object of the present inventionis to providel a superiorcartridge-control mechanism for repeating-firearms in which is embodiedchar--y `acteristics ofvpositively preventing the undesir' able tiltingof Vone cartridgeV by another as the same are fed from the magazine oftherearm. A furthar object of the present invention is to provideasuperior `cartridge-control mechanism for repeating-firearms in Whichisembodied a positive cartridge-control*feature which, under one set ofconditions, will impose positive re-v straint upona cartridge and which,when condi-v tions arealtered, will provide the minimum of resistancetov the further movement of the; cartridge in question. y

- `With the above and other objects in View, as will appear toA thoseskilled in theart from the present disclosure, this invention includesall features in the said disclosure which are v"novel over the prior artand which are not claimed'n any separate application.` i

ln the accompanying drawings,.in whichV certairrmodes of carrying outthe present' inventionareshown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a broken' view in sidev elevation of anupturn-and-pullback,bolt-action repeating firearm embodying one form ofcartridge-control mechanism embodying the present invention;

t Fig.v 2.*is a broken'view thereof mainly in ver ticalcentralLlongitndinal vsection with portions' shown inl side elevation,the parts being shown inl tlie positions clue to them when the breech isin itsjbreech-c'losing position'and in readinessV for Fig. 3 is asimilar View but with more of the parts shown inside elevation andillustrating the'parts in the positions which they assume when theyloreeclfi-loolt is fully retired;

v line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

"Fig, 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on vFig. Gris a view inside elevation of the unit V l shoulder 28 lwhich isr adapteda.rearwardly-facing'boeking-shoulder 29'V formed FlcEjff/j comprisingthe magazine-throat. and the Calf-:f tridge-detent,detached;' 'y y Fig.7 -is-a'top or plan view thereof.; Fig. 8 isy a broken reverse planview-gf the;Y forward portionof the breech-bolt; Y* d) Fig. 9 is a*perspective view of the cartridge-- detent, detached; and. Fig. 10 is aperspective View.A of the magazine+ throat,detached. I The repeatinglfirearm herein chosen for illusjj tration and description isofL theso-called .up-. turnand-pullbacl f.bolt-action type and includes atubular-receiver I 5 into thev forwardy end.y yor which is threaded the,rear end of abarrell having a cartridge-,chamber I 6a` therein.v Thesaid receiver I5, and barrel I6y are thus organized' together andconstitute what maybe termedafbarrel-unit, The said receiver. I5 isprovided with an axial bolt-receivingv-.chamber 4I1( and is: cut away atits forward upper-portion to provide: f an ejection-opening I8. Thesaidfejection-opening I8 is in communicationlwith the bolt-receiv-r ingchamber I'I in thereCeiVerIS, asisalso -an L-shaped passage I9 in theVrear portionvofthe said receiver, as-is. shown particularly well in!Fig. 1. p ,e The axial bolt-receiving chamber-.I1 in .thetubular-receiver` I5 receives areciprocating cylindricallyfcontoureclbreech-bolt l20 having a laterv ally-offsetting operating-handle 2l,the-base of- Which latter is adapted :to ride 'in the L-shaped. passageI9 before referred to. Thebreechfbolt f 20 is formed with a longitudinalming-plunger passage 22 which is -intersected at its forwardend by arelatively-small firing-point passage 23;l Reciprocatable in the passage22 in the,.breech bolt 2.0 is a reciprocating*firing-plunger`24 hav.-`ing a, firing-point 25.movab1e.through the firing# point passage 2,3inthe `said breech-bolt.

Fixed Within the hollow rear end ofthe breech.-l bolt 20 is an end-plug26 against Whichvis seatedl the rear end of a helical'ring-.spring 21. yThe forward end of the iiring-spring 21 just referredto bears againsttherear end of the iiring-plunger- 24 .and exerts a constant effort to movetheY said firing-plunger forwardly. H

The main portion ofthe firing-plunger.-24is=` substantially plate-likeand is provided adjacent its rear end With a forwardly-facing. cockingftofbe engaged by upon the susbstantially-horizontal sear arm 3-0 of a.sear-and-trigger unit generallydesignated bythe -reference character 3|.The said sear. and-trigger unit 3l includes also a substantiallvsvertical trigger-arm 32 terminating at its lower end in a curvedfinger-piece 33. Mounted against the under side of the Sear-arm 36 ofthe searand-trigger unit 3| is a safety-slide 34, which latter is notper se involved in the present invention and requires no detaileddescription other than to say that it is movable for locking andunlocking the firing mechanism of the firearm by a pivotal-lever 35shown in Fig. 1.

The said sear-and-trigger unit 3| is mounted for pivotal movement upon apivot-pin 36 carried by a wedge-shaped lug 31 ttingwi'th a drive-fitwithin a similarly-shaped transverse groove 38 formed in the under sideof the receiver I adjacent the rear end thereof.

Extending beneath the barrel I6 vand beneath the forward portion of thereceiver |5 is a magazine-tube 39 having a usual spring-pressedcartridge-follower 40 therein, which latter serves to press rearwardlyupon such cartridges as may be located to its rear. Y v

Projecting forwardly into the open rear end of the magazine-tube 39 isthe tubular-stem 4| of a Amagazine-throat generallydesignated by thereference character 42 and which may be conveniently formed of sheetmetal. The forward end of the tubular-stem 4| of' the magazinethroat 42is preferably formed, as shown, -with an annular forwardly-and-outwardlysloping bevel 43 serving to guide -cartridges from the magazine-tube 39into the said tubular-stem, and thus rearwardly into the interior of themagazine-throat 42.

The Vmagazine-throat 42 is formed with a pair of laterally-spaced-apartupwardly-extending side-panels 44 and 45 which extend upwardly into theinterior of the receiver |5 through a longitudinal passage 46` (Figs. 4and 5) formed in the bottom wall of the said receiver adjacent theforward end thereof and substantially directly below theejection-opening I8 therein. The panel 44 just referred to, is shorterin a direction from front to rear than is the complemental panel 45 toaccommodate adjacent its forward edge a detent-shifting tongue 41 whichis formed integral with the magazinethroat 42 and slopes upwardly andoutwardly for the purpose of shifting a cartridge-detent in the manneras will hereinafter appear. The side panel 44 is formed in its lowerportion with a -clearance-opening 48 which receives a detentnger, aswill appear from the following.

Immediately to the rear of its upwardly-projecting side panels 44 and45, the magazinethroat 42 has its respective opposite side walls curvedinwardly to provide two opposed cartridgestop fingers 49 and 50. Thelast-mentioned cartridge-stop finger 5|] is cut away at its forwardportion to provide thereon a forwardlyfacing cartridge-ejecting abutment5|.

The forward portion of the magazine-throat 42 is supported by having itstubular-stem 4I extended within the rear end of the magazine-tube 39, asbefore described, and the rear end of the said magazine-throat isrigidly supported in the firearm structure by a transverse pin 52extending through perforations in the respective cartridge-stop fingers49 and 5|] thereof and into the adjacent portions of the receiver I5.

1n addition to the features above described, the magazine-'throat' 42 isformed with a pair of rearwardly-projecting laterally-spaced-apart arms53-53 between which extends, with capacity for rocking movement,` acartridge-carrier orl elevator generally designated by the referencecharacter 54. The said cartridge-carrier is mounted for pivotal movementbetween the arms 53-53 by means of a transverse pin 55 extendingtherethrough and through the said arms 53-53. The respective oppositeends of the pivot-pin 55 project laterally beyond the said arms 53-53 toa degreek sufficient to provide support for the complemental helicalcoils or loops 56-5'6 of a cartridge-elevating spring generallydesignated by the reference character 5l. The said cartridge-elevatingspring 51 is formed with a depending U-shaped arm 58 which joins thecomplemental coils or loops 56-56 and which engages with the rear faceof the lower portion of'the cartridge-elevator 54 to yieldingly urge thesame in a counter-clockwise direction around the pivot-pin 55. The saidcartridge-elevating spring 51 is also formed with tworearwardlyextending arms 59-59 projecting respectively from the coils orloops 55-56 and engaged with the" under face of the safety-slide 34. Asthus constructed' and arranged, the cartridge-elevating spring 51 exertsa constant but yielding elort to both lift the Sear-arm 30 of theSear-andtrigger unit 3| and to turn the cartridge-elevator 54 in acounterclockwise direction for the purpose of sequentially elevatingcartridges, all in a manner as will more fully hereinafter appear.

The upper rear portion of the cartridge-elevator 54 is provided with oneor more lugs 60 adapted to be engaged for turning the saidcartridge-elevator in a clockwise direction against the tension of thecartridge-elevating spring 51, by a forwardly-facing depressing-shoulder6| formed on the breech-bolt 20 about midway the length thereof. Ifdesired, though not essential, the breech-bolt 20 may also be providedwith a rearwardly-facing abutment or shoulder 62 (Figs. 2 and 3) adaptedto engage with the lug Si) on the cartridge-elevator 54 to assist thecartridgeelevating spring 51 in turning the said vcartridgeelevator in acounterclockwise direction.

The forward edge` of the main body of the cartridge-elevator 54 iscurved concentrically with respect to the pivot-pin 55 and constitutes areleasable check or stop from the column of cartridges in the tubularmagazine. The said cartridge-elevator 54 is formed with a longitudinalupwardly-opening pocket B3 receiving a tongue 64 hung upon a pivot-pin65 carried by the said cartridge-elevator at a point remote from its ownpivot-pin 55. The tongue 64 carried by the cartridge-elevator 54 isurged upwardly by a helical spring 66 bearing against the under side ofthe said tongue about midway the length thereof and seated in aspring-pocket 61 opening upwardly and intersecting the bottom wall ofthe larger pocket 63 in which the said tongue is located. To limit theupward swing of the rear end of the tongue '64 with respect to thecartridge-elevator 54 by which it is carried, a pin-like stop-abutment68 is mounted in the said cartridge-elevator and extends across theupper rear portion of the pocket 63 therein.

For the purpose of checking the rearward movement of cartridges as thesame emerge from the magazine-tube 39 when the forward upper corner ofthe cartridge-elevator 54 is substantially fully depressed,themagazine-throat 42 is formed in either or both of its side walls withan in-bent cartridge-stop abutment 69 which acts as a stop for thecartridges in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2.

Movably associated with the right side wall of the magazine-throat 42with capacity for both plane perpendicular with respect to the axis ofythe said transverse pin, but may also swing slightly laterally thereon,lall for the purpose as will more fully hereinafter appear.l v

Formed integral withl'the lower edge of the cartridge-detent 19 and bentinwardly at a right angle thereto, is a cartridge-detent 'lingery 12which extends throughthe clearance-opening 48 in the side panel 44 ofthe magazine-throat 42 in position to move both vertically and laterallytherein and to be engaged by the successive -cartridges as the same moveupwardly. The extreme' forward end-portionof the cartridgedetent 10 isinset to provide an operating-tongue 13 preferably having its lowerportion 14 sloping-'downwardly and inwardly as shown.r The slope yof thelower portion 14 just referred to,

substantially corresponds to the slope of the inner face of thedetent-shifting tongue 41 of the magazine-throat 42 so as to afford asmooth camming engagement therewith.

The upper edge 15 of the cartridge-detent 10 is positioned to be engagedby the under face of a., longitudinal lug 16 depending from the underside of the forward portion of the breech-bolt 20 for the purpose aswill more clearly hereinafter appear.

For purposes of description, let it be assumed that the parts are in thepositions in whichthey are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4'and that threecartridges 11, 18 and 19 are in the gun structure. The cartridge 11is-in the cartridge-cham- `is now partly in the magazine-tube -39 andpartly vin the magazine throat 42.

Now whenthefingerpiece 33 of the Sear-andtrigger unit 3l is pulledrearwardly, the carv, tridge 11 willl be fired, followingl which thenext normal operation is for the operator of the rearm to retire thebreech-bolt 29 into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3. In thisman-r ner the now-fired cartridge 11 will have been extracted from thecartridge-chamber |6a and -ejected through the ejection-opening 18 ofthe receiver l5.

fAsthevbreech-bolt 20 moves rearwardly asy above described, the lug 16thereof will ride off f from the upper edge 15 of the cartridge-detent10 thus permitting the cartridge-elevator 54 acting through thecartridge 18 to force the said carytridge-detent to swing both outwardlyand upwardly about the transverse pin 521m a, path determined by thecoaction of the operating-tongue 13 in its engagement with the datentshifting tongue 41 of the magazine-throat 42. Theresistance needed tobeovercome in order to retire Y 1 the cartridge-detent finger 12 of thecartridgedetent 10 out of the path of .movement of the car-Vv tridge 18is only the negligible Weightof the said cartridge-detent 10, so thatthe cartridgeelevating spring 51 is enabled to elevate-the saidcartridge 18 from the position in-which it is shown in Fig. 2- into theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 3, without appreciable resistance.

- It may be explained in this connection that as soon as the breech-bolt20 is moved rearwardly, the depressing-shoulder 6| thereof will also beretired rearwardly thus relieving the cartridgeelevator 54 of restraintand permitting the cartridge-elevating spring 51 to assert itself.'(save in certain contingencies as will hereinafter appear) and swing thesaid cartridge-elevator 54 in a counterclockwise direction toefect thelifting or elevation of the cartridge 18 and theY retirement of thecartridge-detent 19 as above described.Y f f When the magazine-tube 39is loaded to capacity it may be that the spring-pressedcartridge-follower 40 will press so firmly upon-the column of cartridgesas to so firmly pinch the cartridge 18 betweenthe cartridge-stopabutment 69 and the cartridge 19 that, under some conditions, thecartridge-elevating springy 51 will not exert suiiicient force toV liftthe cartridge 18 as above described. In this event, howeventhe rearwardtravel of the breech-bolt will bring the shoulder or abutment 62 at therear endiof the lug 16, into engagement with the upwardlyprojectingportion of the cartridge-elevator`54 and thus provide sufficient forceto swing the said cartridge-elevator in `a counterclockwise direc# tionand thus release the cartridge 18 from the will engage with the rim ofthe cartridge 1B which is nowv elevated as is shown in Fig. 3 and. shiftthe same forwardly out from beneathv the cartridge-stop fingers 49 and50 of the magazine-throat 42 and will ultimately insert the said'cartridge in the cartridge chamber- I'Ga of the barrel I6. i

As the breech-,bolt is moved forwardly intoits breech-closing positionas just above described,`

the lug 16 thereof will engage and override the upper edge 15 of thecartridge-detent 10 to force' the said cartridge-detent downwardly andinwardly in the event that gravity has not already accomplished itspurpose. ment of the cartridge-detent 10 will be effected as the same ismoved downwardly by the engagement of lthe sloping lower portion -14withY the inclined detent-shifting tongue `41 of the magazine-throatY42. breech-bolt is in its forward or breech-closing position, the lug 16of the breech-bolt 29 will overlie the forward portion of thecartridge-detent 10 and thus positively hold the same against eitheroutward or upward movement so thatfits cartridge-detent finger 12 willbein position` to` prevent the next lcartridge emergingV from themagazine-tube 39 from becoming undulytiltedory cocked-up.

The latter part of the movement of the breechbolt 26 into itsbreech-closing position will bring. its depressing-shoulder 6| intoengagement with the upper rear portion of the cartridge-elevator 54 andwill swing the said cartridge-elevator. in

a clockwise direction against the tension of the cartridge-elevatingspring 51 so asf to restore the said cartridge-elevator to -thepositionin The inward move- In anyv event, when thewhich it is shown in Fig. 2.As the upper forward corner of the cartridge-elevator 54 moves below therim of the cartridge 19 the said cartridge will snap rearwardly underthe force applied by the spring-pressed cartridge-follower 40, until itsmovementI is halted by the engagement of the rim of the said cartridgewith the cartridge-stop abutment 69 of the magazine-throat 42. It is nowthat the cartridge-detent performs its function of preventing thecartridge 19 and those to follow in turn, from cooking-up or so tiltingin the magazine-throat to such eX- tent as to endanger their properfeeding to the cartridge-chamber ISa of the barrel I6. When the timecomes for elevating the cartridge 19 the retirement of the breech-bolt20 will have also retired the lug 16 thereof` and thus released thecartridge-detent 'l0 which is now no longer required to perform anyfunction until the nextsucceeding cycle of operation.

By providing the positively-actuated cartridgedetent 'I0 or itsequivalent and permitting the same to have both vertical and lateralmovement a very reliable, simple and effective structure is providedwhich insures the proper feeding of cartridges from a tubular-magazineto the cartridge-chamber of the firearm.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than thoseherein set forth without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm including in combination: abarrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazineassociated with the said barrel-unit and located below thecartridge-chamber therein; cartridgeelevating means operable to raisecartridges upwardly from the said tubular-magazine toward thecartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a cartridge-detent alsoassociated with the said barrel-unit and operatively mounted therein formovement alternately upwardly-and-outwardly and downwardly-and-inwardlywith respect to the path of movement of cartridges as the same move fromthe said tubular-magazine to the cartridge-chamber of the saidbarrel-unit; and a breech-bolt reciprocating in a portion of the saidbarrel-unit and operable in the breech-closing movement thereof to causethe said cartridgedetent to be moved from itsupwardly-and-outwardly-disposed position into itsdownwardlyand-inwardly-disposed position for restraining a cartridgeagainst undue tilting as the same emerges from the saidtubular-magazine.

2. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm including in combination: abarrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazineassociated with the said barrel-unit and located below thecartridge-chamber therein; cartridgeelevating means operable to raisecartridges upwardly from the said tubular-magazine toward thecartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a cartridge-detent alsoassociated with the said barrel-unit and operatively mounted therein formovement alternately upwardly-and-outwardly and downwardly-and-inwardlywith respect to the path of movement of cartridges as the same move fromthe said tubular-magazine to the cartridgechamber of the saidbarrel-unit; cam-means inclined inwardly and downwardly for guiding thesaid cartridge-detent inwardly when the same is moved downwardly; and abreech-bolt reciprocating in a portion of the said barrel-unit andoperable in the breech-closing movement thereof to cause the saidcartridge-detent to be moved from its upwardly-and-outwardly-disposedposition downwardly into engagement with the saidinwardly-and-downwardly-inclined cam-means to be moved inwardly by thelatter into position for restraining a cartridge against undue tiltingas the same emerges from the said tubularmagazine.

3. A tubular-magazine repeating-rearm including in combination: abarrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazineassociated with the said barrel-unit and located below thecartridge-chamber therein; cartridgeelevating means operable to raisecartridges upwardly from the said tubular-magazine toward thecartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a cartridge-detent alsoassociated with the said barrel-unit and loosely pivoted about asubstantially-horizontal axis extending crosswise of the firearm topermit the Cartridge-detent to be alternately movedupwardly-and-outwardly and downwardly-and-inwardly with respect to thepath of movement of cartridges as the same move from the saidtubular-magazine to the cartridgechamber of the said barrel-unit; and abreechbolt reciprocating in a portion of the said barrelunit andoperable in the breech-closing movement thereof to turn the saidcartridge-detent about its pivot-point from itsupwardly-and-outwardly-disposed position into itsdownwardlyand-inwardly-disposed position for restraining a cartridgeagainst undue tilting as the same emerges from the saidtubular-magazine.

4. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm including in combination: abarrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazineassociated with the said barrel-unit and located below thecartridge-chamber therein; cartridgeelevating means operable to raisecartridges upwardly from the said tubular-magazine toward thecartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a cartridge-detent alsoassociated with the said barrel-unit and loosely pivoted about asubstantially-horizontal axis extending crosswise of the firearm topermit the cartridge-detent to be alternately movedupwardly-and-outwardly and downwardly-and-inwardly with respect to thepath of movement of cartridges as the same move from the saidtubular-magazine to the cartridgechamber of the said barrel-unit;cam-means extending inwardly and downwardly for guiding the saidcartridge-detent inwardly when the same is moved downwardly; and abreech-bolt reciprocating in a portion of the said barrel-unit andoperable in the breech-closing movement thereof to cause the saidcartridge-detent to be moved from its upwardly-and-outwardly-disposedposition downwardly into engagement with the saidinwardly-and-downwardly-inclined cam-means to be moved inwardly by thelatter into positionl for restraining a cartridge against undue tiltingas the same emerges from the said tubularmagazine.

5. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm including in combination: abarrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazineassociated with the said barrel-unit and located below thecartridge-chamber therein; `a magazine-throat structure located to therear of the said tubular-magazine and having an upwardlyrections to moveits said cartridge-detent nger into and out lof the path, of cartridgesas the same move from Vthe lower portion of the said magazine-throatstructure to the cartridge-chamber of the said barrel-unit; and abreech-bolt reciprocating in a portion of the said barrel-unit andoperable in the breech-closing movement thereof to cause the saidcartridge-detent to be moved both inwardly and downwardly to bring itscartridge-detent iinger into position for restraining a cartridgeagainst undue tilting in the said magazine-throat structure, when thesaid breech-bolt is moved into its breech-closing position, i

6. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm including in combination: abarrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazineassociated with the said barrel-unit and located below thecartridge-chamber therein; a magazine-throat structure located to therear of the said tubular-magazine and having an upwardlyopening interiorchamber receiving cartridges from the said tubular-magazine and alsohaving a side wall thereof provided with a clearanceopening forreceiving a cartridge-stop linger of a cartridge-detent;cartridge-elevating means operable in the said magazine-throat structureto raise cartridges upwardly from the said magazine-throat structuretoward the cartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a cartridge-detentlocated adjacent the side of the said magazinethroat; structure havingthe clearance-opening therein and having a cartridge-stop nger extendingthrough the said clearance-opening, the said cartridge-detent beingmovable both vertically and laterally in respectively oppositedirections t0 move its said cartridge-detent nger into and out of thepath of cartridges as the same move from the lower portion of the saidmagazine-throat structure to the cartridgechamber of the saidbarrel-unit; cam-means inclinedvinwardly and downwardly for guiding thesaid cartridge-datent inwardlywhen the same is moved downwardly; andabreech-bolt reciprocating in a portion of the said barrel-unit andoperable in the breech-closing movement thereof to cause the saidcartridge-detent to be moved from itsupwardly-and-outwardly-disposedposition downwardly for inward guidanceby the said cam-means to move its cartridge-detent nger into/positionfor restraining a cartridge against undue tilting in the saidmagazinethroat structure. i 7. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearminincluding in combination: a barrel-unit having a cartridge-chambertherein; a tubular-magazine associated with the said barrel-unit andlocated below the cartridge-chamber therein; a magazine-throat locatedto the rear of the said tubular-magazine and having an upwardly-openinginterior chamber receiving cartridges from the said tubular-magazine andalso having a side wall thereof provided with a clearance-opening forreceiving a cartridge-stop linger of "a cartridge-detent;cartridge-elevating means operable in the said-'magazine-throatstructure to raise cartridges upwardlyA from the `said magazine-throattoward the cartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a cartridge-detentlocated adjacent the side of the said magazine-throat having theclearance-opening therein'and havinga cartridge-stop finger extendingthrough the said clearance-opening, the said cartridge detent beingmovable both vertically and laterally in respectively Voppositedirections to move its said cartridge-detentnger into and out of thepath of cartridges as the s amemove from vthelowerv portion of the saidmagazine-throat to the cartridge-ehamber of the said barrel-unit; adetentguiding tongue carried by the said magazinethroat and inclinedinwardly and -downwardly for guiding the said cartridge-detent inwardlyY when the same is moved downwardly; and a breech-bolt reciprocating ina portion of the said barrel-unit and operable in the breech-closingmovement thereof to cause the said cartridge- -detent to be moveddownwardly against the detent-gui-ding tongue of the saidmagazine-throat for inward guidance thereby to move its cartridge-datentfinger into position for restraining a cartridge against undue tiltingin the said magazine-throat.

8. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm including in combination: abarrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazineassociated with the said barrel-unit and located below thecartridge-chamber therein; a rmagazine-throat located to the rear of thesaid tubular-magazine and having an upwardly-opening interior chamberreceiving cartridges from the said tubular-magazine and also having aside wall thereof provided with a clearance-opening for receiving acartridge-stop nger of a cartridge-detent; cartridge-elevating meansoperable in the said magazine-throat. structure to raise cartridgesupwardly from the said maga- Zine-throat toward the cartridge-chamber inthe said barrel-unit; a transverse coupling-pin coupling the saidmagazine-throat to the said barrel-unit; a cartridge-detent locatedadjacent the side of the said magazine-throat having theclearance-opening therein and having a cartridge-stop ringer extendingthrough the said clearance-opening, the said cartridge-detent. beingloosely pivoted upon the said transverse coupling-pin with capacity forswinging movement in both vertical and lateral directions to move itssaid cartridge-detent finger into and out of the path of cartridges asthe same moves from the lower portion of the said magazine-throat tothev cartridge-chamber of the said barrel-unit; and a breech-boltreciprocating in a portion ofthe said barrel-unit and operable in thebreech-closing movement thereof to cause the sai-d cartridgedetent bothinwardly and downwardly to move its cartridge-detent linger intoposition for restraining a cartridge against undue tilting in the saidmagazine-throat.

9. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm including in combination: abarrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazineassociated with the said barrel-unit and located below thecartridge-chamber therein; a maga- ,zine-throat located to the rear ofthe said tubular-magazine and having an upwardly-opening interiorchamber receiving cart-ridges from the said tubular-magazine and alsohaving a side wall thereof provided with a clearance-opening forreceiving a cartridge-stop finger of a cartridge-detent;`cartridge-elevating means operable in the said magazine-throatstructure to raise cartridges upwardly from the said magalzine-throattoward the cartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a transversecoupling-pin coupling the said magazine-throat to the said barrelunit; acartridge-detent located adjacent the side of the said magazine-throathaving the clearance-opening therein and having a cartridgestop ngerextending through the said clearanceopening, the said cartridge-detentbeing loosely pivoted upon the said transverse coupling-pin withcapacity for swinging movement in both vertical and lateral directionsto move its said cartridge-detent finger into and out of the'path ofcartridges as the same move from the lower portion of the saidmagazine-throat to the cartridge-chamber of the said barrel-unit; and adetent-guiding tongue carried by the said magazine-throat and inclinedinwardly and downwardly for guiding the said cartridge-detent inwardlywhen the same is moved downwardly; and a breech-bolt reciprocating in aportion of the said barrel-unit and operable in the breech-closingmovement thereof to turn the said cartridgedetent `downwardly intoengagement with the said detent-guiding tongue to be guided inwardlythereby and move its cartridge-detent finger into position forrestraining a cartridge against undue tilting in the saidmagazine-throat.

HARRY L. CROCKETT.

